Universal implant blank for modifying corneal curvature and methods of modifying corneal curvature therewith

Abstract

A universally sized blank made of organic or synthetic material that can be placed on an exposed inner surface of a live cornea and ablated with a laser beam to be altered to a particular shape. A flap-like portion of the live cornea is removed to expose an inner surface of the cornea, and the blank is positioned on the exposed inner surface of the eye. A laser beam is directed onto certain portions of the blank that are selected based on the type of ametropic condition (i.e., myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism) of the eye needing correction, so that the laser beam ablates those portions and thus reshapes the blank. The laser beam can also be directed onto certain portions of the laser surface of the cornea to ablate those surfaces of the cornea. The flap-like portion of the cornea is repositioned over the remaining portion of the blank, so that the remaining portion of the blank influences the shape of the reattached flap-like portion of the cornea and thus modifies the curvature of the cornea.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.